Espn - Star Inks Big Cricket Deal With Csi

ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has announced that it has signed a mega deal with CSI to broadcast international cricket. CSI is an agency which holds cricket telecast rights in four countries Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

According to the contract, the Indian viewer will be able to enjoy an additional 432 days of international cricket till the year 2004 exclusively on ESPN and Star Sports.

This includes live coverage of India's tour to six countries which include West Indies and England besides the above four.

India is expected to play 161 days of cricket abroad during he next four years which includes 23 test matches and 46 one day internationals.

The total test cricket to be telecast will include 100 test matches and 196 one day games. According to ESPN Star Sports spokesper son, this is against 127 days of cricket to be telecast in five years in India.

This includes 100 days of test cricket and 27 one day games involving India.

Mann Sawhney, the newly appointed managing director of ESPN Software, is tightlipped about the financial details of the contract.

ESS also announced a marketing initiative "Cricket Mania 2000". The campaign will promote upcoming cricket coverage including the LG Cup, Pakistan tour of Australia, England Tour of South Africa, the India, Australia, Pakistan Tri Series. the England, South Africa, Zimbabwe tri-series and the Asia Cup,"Sawhney said in a release.

Among the major India tours to be brought live to Indian viewers include India's tour to Australia in between November 1999 to February 2000 and in October 2003-February 2004 to play 3 test matches and minimum 8 one-dqy Internationals. It also includes India's tour to South Africa in October 2001 and to West Indies in February 2001.